Even before the doors opened on the first day of qualifying for the Nov. 4 election, the line was long.

“Everyone is getting a number; that makes the process more orderly,” said St. Landry Parish Clerk of Courts Charles Jagneaux, who was providing coffee and donuts to candidates as they waited to sign up for offices from parish judge to constable.

“We have probably the biggest election in the state this year,” said Jagneaux.

The parish has 10 municipalities with every elected office in each on the ballot.

Add to that judges, the district attorney, all school board positions, constables and justices of the peace, and the local ballot will include more than 100 offices.

Jagneaux said that could mean hundreds of candidates because he expects most positions will be contested. “I’m thinking all of them,” he said, “with the exception of some justice of peace and constable positions.”

First through the door of the Delta Grand Theatre in Opelousas, where qualifying takes place through Friday, was Opelousas Alderman Reggie Tatum. He signed up to run for mayor.

Tatum said he arrived at 6 a.m., two hours before the start of qualifying, to make sure he was first in line.

“This is the official start of the campaign, and I wanted to hit the ground running,” said Tatum, who began walking the city to sell his ideas to voters as soon as he had signed the required qualifying documents.

“I wanted to show people I was serious about it,” Tatum said.

Right behind him was Shaterral “Terral” Johnson, of Sunset. Like Tatum, she is a board of alderman member throwing her hat into the ring for the mayor’s job in her community.

“I’ve always been an early bird, but I also wanted the citizens to know I care. I’m working to make a difference. I know how to get things done,” Johnson said as she signed her paperwork.

“This is your packet. It’s very important stuff,” the clerk chimed in, handing her a large envelope packed with paper.

Jagneaux said the packet every candidate received lists important dates such when they have to file various campaign financing and other reports, when to request poll watchers and the state’s ethics code.

Jagneaux said it is important for candidates and voters to understand that it is not his place to judge the qualifications of any candidate.

“We don’t have the authority to disqualify anyone,” said Jagneaux, who said each candidate signs an affidavit saying that he or she is qualified to run for office.

If anyone wants to challenge a candidate, they must file a civil suit within five days after qualifying. “The judge then has two days to rule on the matter,” Jagneaux said.

For the most part, the qualifying process went smoothly. Candidates turned out in suits and work clothes and happily visited with one another as they waited their turn.

If there was any controversy on this first day of qualifying, it involved candidates for justices of the peace and constables.

St. Landry Parish Sen. Elbert Guillory introduced and the full legislature passed a new law this year saying no one over the age of 70 could run for those offices. But the Louisiana Justice of the Peace and Constables Association has filed suit against that law.

“A judge in Lafayette has issued a stay for 10 days. We just learned that yesterday morning,” Jagneaux said. “That effectively kills (that law) for this election.”

“I thought it was discrimination,” said Scurdy Menard, the current justice of the peace for District 5 who was signing up to run for another term.

He said that law would have disqualified about 160 current justices of the peace and constables statewide, including himself and five or six others in St. Landry Parish.

“It would have disqualified nine of the 18 in Lafayette Parish,” Menard said.

Local voters will also be able to cast their ballots for a U.S. senator and three U.S. congressional seats — District 3, District 4 and District 5. Candidates for those positions must register in Baton Rouge.

Get involved

• Qualifying for the Nov. 4 election continues today and Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day at the Delta Grand Theatre, 120 S. Market St., Opelousas.